Matt O’Connor returning to Leicester as coach

Leicester have announced the Welford Road return of Australian Matt O’Connor as their head coach.

O’Connor is set to begin work early next month, subject to a visa, with current head coach Aaron Mauger leaving the Tigers after next Saturday’s Aviva Premiership clash against east midlands rivals Northampton.

O’Connor, 46, worked at Leicester between 2008 and 2013, initially as backs coach and then head coach. During that period, the Tigers won three Premiership titles.

After leaving Leicester, O’Connor became head coach with Irish heavyweights Leinster, a spell that included league title success and a European Champions Cup semi-final appearance.

New Zealander Mauger, meanwhile, took control of Leicester’s coaching team after Richard Cockerill departed as rugby director earlier this season.

But he now exits Welford Road as the Tigers, who won the Anglo-Welsh Cup on Sunday, continue their Premiership title play-off push.

Aaron Mauger is leaving the club (Joe Giddens/PA)

Leicester chairman Peter Tom said: “The club have conducted an exhaustive search to find who we feel is the right person to take the team forward. And this brought up the names of a number of potentially very good coaches.

“One of the most significant factors in our deliberations was experience of the Premiership and what it takes to win the competition.

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